After 24 years, Indiana Fever assistant comes full circle in matchup against Portland Fire

“My mom still reminds me! ” The Fever will host the Fire on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and it will serve as a full-circle moment for Bevilaqua. The 53-year-old Australian is an advance scou

INDIANAPOLIS — Forget the hair. Indiana Fever assistant Tully Bevilaqua has a lot of fond memories about her time with the Portland Fire, but her noticeably shorter hair back then isn’t one of them. “Don’t worry,” a pony-tailed Bevilaqua said Tuesday at Fever practice, flashing a sheepish smile.

“My mom still reminds me! ” The Fever will host the Fire on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and it will serve as a full-circle moment for Bevilaqua. The 53-year-old Australian is an advance scout and video coordinator for the Fever, but more than 20 years ago, she was one of the Fire’s founding players.

Portland’s first WNBA team held its inaugural campaign in 2000. Bevilaqua recorded 2 points, four assists and a game-high eight rebounds in the Fire’s first victory over the Seattle Storm. The Fire, however, folded in 2002 after just three seasons.